Acetylene-gas apparatus.



PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

A. W. GRAM. AGETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1900.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No MODEL.

an vento'b No. 767,736. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

A. GRAM. AOETYLENE GAS APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1900.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

I 3n van fo'z UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO VVHEELOR URAM, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WM. D. GRAM, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACETYLENE-GAS APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 7673736, dated August 16, 1904,

Application filed July 17, 1900.

T0 rtZZ whom it'may concern:

Be it known that LALoNzo WHnnLoR GRAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in acetylene-gas apparatus, which will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a separate enlarged view of the connection between the valve-rod and its operating member. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the carbidcontrolling valves. Figs. 4 and 5 are separate views of modified forms of the outer carbidcontrolling valve.

Referring now to the drawings, A indicates the stationary portion of a gasometer, and B the bell or movable portion.

C is a surrounding well for the stationary portion A, in which the side walls of the bell B depend, the said well C being filled with water to form a gas-tight joint as the bell rises and falls in a manner which is well understood.

D is a generating or slacking chamber which is connected with the gasometer and has its lower end turned toward the lower end of the gasometer and in communication therewith through the opening an, formed in the division-wall between the lower ends of the chamber A and the slacking or generating chamber D.

Supported at and closing the upper end of the generating-chamber D is a carbid-holder E, having its bottom T approximately cone shape, the apex of the cone provided with an outlet-opening F. Situated within the carbid-holder and directly over and adapted to close hermetically the opening F is an inverted cup or cone shaped valve M, preferably the former, as here shown, and secured to this valve is a depending valve-actuating rod I. The valve-rod I is rigidly connected. with the valve M and has its upper end It Serial No. 23,959. (No model.)

passing loosely through a surrounding or 5 outer inverted-cupshaped valve H.

- Situated within the carbid-holder and directly over and partially inclosing the outer or upper valve H is a cup-shaped shield N, which is supported by the laterally-extending arms P, which have their outer ends connected with the inclined bottom T of the carbidholder. This shield N serves to sustain the Weight of the carbid in the holder above the said valve and to relieve the valves of the weight thereof, whereby they are not affected thereby as they otherwise would be. Passing into and through that side of the generatingchamber D adjacent the gasometer is an inclined pipe J through which a rod K passes, the lower end thereof projecting through the lower end of the tube J and being suitably corinected with the lower end of the valveroc I.

The specific form of connection between the thevalve-stem I and the rod J preferred by me is illustrated in Fig. 2. As here shown, the lower end of the valve-stem is turned slightly to one side and provided with an elongated opening 5. The lower end 6 of the rod J is made flat, as illustrated in Fig.

2, and made in the form of a head, with grooves 7 in opposite sides thereof. By means of this construction the upper end of the rod J can be detached from the intermediately- 3O pivoted lever F and by a quarter-revolution detached from the lower end of the valvestem, withdrawn, and thus permitting the valve and the valve-stem to also be removed.

The bottom B of the chamber A of the gasometer is inclined as shown, which constitutes or forms a chamber A for receiving the drip from the gas-conveying pipes and also for the purpose of forming a seal for the said pipes. The bottom F of the generating 9 or slacking chamber D is inclined toward the lower end of the inclined bottom B for the purpose of causing the waste carbid to settle at the juncture of the two bottoms for a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

Surrounding the outlet-opening F of the carbid-holder and depending within and below the water-line, as indicated, is a tube I for the purpose of making a gas. seal and also for the purpose of causing the gas generated from the dropping carbid to be washed and cooled by passage through the water contained within the generating-chamber before it reaches the gas-outlet pipe I, having its upper open end in the upper end of the generating-chamber and above the water-line, as shown. This pipe 1 depends downward and has its lower and open end practically at the bottom of the dripping and sealing chamber A. The gas from the chamber A passes through the pipe L, which is located at the upper end of the inclined ceiling B of the said chamber and extends upward through the Water within the chamber A and has its open upper end in communication with the bell B above the water-line. The gas generated and fed within the bell B is taken therefrom through supply-pipe M, which has its open upper end in communication with the bell B above the water-line of the chamber A and its lower end extending within the water in the chamber A, whereby the dripping from the gas will drip into the said chamber A, and extending laterally from the lower por tion of this pipe is an exit-nozzle l', to be connected in any desired manner with the point of consumption.

1 provide means for feeding the carbid intermittently to the slacking or generating chamber according as gas is required, and this is regulated in a novel way through the medium of the bell B of the gasometer. Projecting from the upper end of one side of the bell B is an arm a, and projecting from this arm a is a hook or suitable recess a, the function of which is to operate the intermediately-pivoted lever 8, supported by an arm 1*, projecting from the upper end of the pipe J. One end of this lever is connected with the upper end of the rod K, and the opposite end of the lever is adapted to be engaged with the wall of the said recess when the gasometer is lowered, whereby it will vdepress the free end of the lever and lift the opposite end and through the medium of the rods K and I lift the inner valve M. Depending also from the arm a is a rack 72, having a smooth side adapted for engagement with the lever .swhen the bell B has been lifted (as illustrated) by gas passing therein and which will force the free end of the lever upward and its opposite end downward and cause the closing of the inner valve M. Therefore as the gasometer rises this rack serves to hold the inner valve M tightly to its seat and hermetically seal it against dampness from the generating-chamber entering the carbid-holder. As the bell B is lowered by the gas being consumed and the lever s tilted, as described, it first lifts the inner valve from its seat, and then by the engagement of the top of the inner valve M with the outer valve H the outer valve is then lifted from its seat, which permits the passage of carbid through the exit-opening of the carbid-holder into the generating or slacking chamber until the bell B has lifted sufficiently to cause the lever to be operated in the opposite direction, which will cause the closing of thewalves.

The object of having two valves is to also insure a clear seating-surface for the inner hermetically-sealing valve M. This is accom plished from the fact that when the valves begin to close by the passage upward from the bell B, as before described, the outer valve H first seats itself and cuts off the flow of carbid, and before the inner valve M has reached its seat all of the carbid within the outer valve H has passed through the exitopening of the carbid-holder, leaving a clear seating-surface for the inner valve, thus enabling me to make always a tight joint be tween the generating or slacking chamber and the carbid-holder. For the purpose of guiding the outer or inclosing valve H the inner valve M is provided with a lateral projection g thereon, as shown.

When lumpy or large carbid is to be used, the. lower edge of the inclosing valve H is preferably notched, as shown in Fig. 4:, or formed with the depending bars, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the outer valve will more readily pass through the carbid for the purpose of cutting off its passage to the exitopening and before the inner and sealing valve M has reached its seat. For the purpose of aiding the outer valve in forcing its way through the carbid I'provide a spring S, which surrounds the upper projecting end of the rod 1 and has its ends resting, respectively, upon the top of the valve H and the inner end of the valve-protecting shield N.

For the purpose of supplying fresh water to the generating-chamber and also to the chamber A of the gasometerI provide a pipe f, which extends downward outside of the generating-chamber and has its lower end It opening into the generating-chamber, and a branch pipe z'extending across the generatingchamber with an upturned end 1' within the chamber A of the gasometer. By this means fresh water can be added from time to time when convenient or when it may be necessary in both the generating-chamber and into the chamber A.

For the purpose of carrying off the waste carbid which has collected at the junction of the inclined bottoms F of the generating chamber and B of the chamber A a pipe Z has its lower open end at the junction of said inclined bottoms and extends upward and has its upper end provided with an outlet 5 to be placed in communication with a sewer in any desired manner. The upper end 0 of this pipe is left open, whereby a rod may be passed thereinto for the purpose of unstopping any impediment or clodding of the material within the pipe. The operation of this pipe Zfor Z is just at the water-line, and when any ad-- ditional water is added to the said chambers it flows out of the pipes and sends up an upwardly-flowing current directly at the point at which the waste carbid has collected, and this upward current carries with it the waste carbid flowing through the pipe Z and into the sewer or vessel placed to receive it.

In the event of so much carbid being fed to the generating-chamber that the bell B of the gasometer will not hold it and to prevent the blowing out of the bell or undue pressure to the apparatus 1 provide an exhaust which consists in a vertically-arranged tube R, having its lower end passing through the inclined bottom B and projecting into the liquid or Water within the sealing and drip chamber A. Depending from the bell B is a tube S, which telescopes the said tube R, as illustrated. The tubes R and S extend considerably above the top of the gasometer Ba distance equal to a safety limit of the apparatus. The inclosing tube S, near its lower end, is provided with an opening (Z, and when the bell B has lifted sufliciently to carry this openingd above the water-line gas will pass therethrough and between the tubes and into the upper end 6, down through the pipe R, and out through the laterally-extending leg S thereof to any desired point of exhaust.

For the purpose of indicating the amount of gas passing through the gasometer any desired form of indicator, as t, may be provided and will have connection through the medium of a pinion 6' with the rack 17. This forms no part of my present invention, but is used in the practical application of my invention.

It will also be noted from this description that but a comparatively small amount of carbid is fed to the slacking or generating chamber at each movement of the bell, and this is so intentionally, for the reason that it is found to be desirable to keep on hand but a small amount of gas, it being safer in the form of dry carbid in the carbid-holder than it is in the form of generated gas Within the gasometer. Hence the carbid is only fed to the generating-chamber just before the gasometer is exhausted and sufficient fed to keep the apparatus in operation, the feeding of the carbid being intermittent. However, to prevent any accident should a larger amount of carbid be fed than is intended the exhaust hereinbefore described is provided.

Projecting from the lower end of the tube J is a deflector-plate J for the purpose of spreading and deflecting the falling carbid as it passes down the generating-chamber D and serving in that way to break up and separate any particles of carbid as they fall. By providing a large amount of water in the chamber A and a large amount of water in the generating-chamber and providing along fallingspace for the carbid fed it is found that a greater amount of gas can be generated from the carbid in that in its falling any particles which may become coated with lime by contact with the water are disturbed sufliciently to break them up and to subject all atoms of the carbid to the action of the water.

The deflector-plate J before referred to also serves the purpose of deflecting the rising bubbles of gas away from the inner end of the pipe K, and thus preventing the escape of the gas through the pipe K, the gas passing upward into the upper end of the generating-chamber, down through the pipe I to the sealing and dripping chamber, where it is subjected to a washing action in passing through the water therein, and thence upward through the pipe L into the bell B.

When it is desired to thoroughly cleanse and empty the apparatus, the valve H at the lower end of the apparatus may be opened for that purpose. Water is fed into the sealing and drip chamber A through a pipe P, and the lower end of the said chamber is provided with a plug-outlet Q, through which the chamber may be emptied.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the inclosing shield N for the valve does not extend entirely to the bottom of the carbidholder, thus providing a space therebelow for the passage of the carbid to the valves.

Carbid is fed to the carbid-holder through a covered opening f, which is adaptedto be closed by means of a lock of any desired form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An acetylene apparatus comprising a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder having an exit-opening in communication therewith, and a plurality of independently-movable cupshaped valves one inclosing the other, and an actuating member rigidly connected with the inner valve, for opening and closing it, the inner valve adapted to control the outer valve in its opening and closing movements, whereby the inner valve will open in advance of the outer valve and the outer valve will close in advance of the inner valve, substantially as described.

2. An acetylene-gas apparatus comprising a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder having an exit-opening in communication with the said generating chamber, the carbid-holder having cone-shaped walls adjacent the said eXitopening, a plurality of inverted -cupshaped valves one inclosed within the other and independently movable, each of said valves located above and coacting with said cone-shaped Wall and adapted to control the flow of carbid through the exit-opening, the inner valve havouter valve, substantially as described.

4. An acetylene-gas apparatus comprising a generating-tank, a carbid-holder thereabove and in communication therewith, a valve controlling said holder, a rod depending from the said valve into the generating-chamber, a gasometer, an intermediately-pivoted lever located at one side of the gasometer and having one end adapted to be actuated by the movement thereof, a tube extending into the generating-chamber at an angle with its lower open end adjacent the lower end of the said valverod, and its upper end outside of the generating-chamber and adjacent the opposite end of the said intermediately-pivoted lever, and a rod passing through the tubewith its ends connected respectively with the lower end of the valve-rod and the said lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALONZO WHEELOR CRAM.

Witnesses:

C. C. GRIFFIN, CHARLES J. HALPEN. 

